话要分两头说

[Fred0]

 话要分两头说

Can you clarify the meaning of this phrase for me.

 

The context is: 

和所有的孩子一样，这个狠一开始也是给父母逼出来的。
可是，话要分两头说，这年头 哪有不狠的父母？

 

It seems to me that it  话要分两头说 is a standard phrase which is saying "My speech must (will) distinguish (consider the truth of) both sides of the issue, I say..."

 

 

[Publius]

Yes, that's the literal gloss. But if you want a more idiomatic translation: "but on the other hand".

[陳德聰]

If you want to visualise it, you can imagine coming at an issue from two fronts.